Continued departures from EU public procurement legislation in Greece, despite warnings from the Commission and the Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority (HSPPA)
19.9.2022
Question for written answer E-003102/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Dimitrios Papadimoulis (The Left)
It is being reported[1] that the Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority (HSPPA) has contacted the Greek Government, warning it of the risk of infringement proceedings against Greece prompted by the ongoing adoption of laws facilitating departures from standard tendering procedures as a matter of course, and noting that the pandemic crisis no longer provides such a cast-iron alibi for granting exemptions. In a recent opinion[2], the HSPPA refers to the granting of exemptions leading to outright infringements of EU law and the principles of equal treatment, transparency and fair competition. In reply to my previous question on such massive departures from public procurement provisions in Greece[3], the Commission indicated that it shared these concerns had asked the Greek Government to list the provisions in question by September at the latest in order to decide what action to take[4].
In the view of this:
- 1.Have the Greek authorities informed the Commission of the relevant provisions and, if so, what is its assessment?
- 2.Is it aware that the Greek Government is continuing to invoke an ‘emergency situation’ to justifying fast-track procurement without the exceptional circumstances and conditions specified in Articles 26(2)(b) and 32 of Law 4412/2016 being met[5]?
- 3.Is it considering measures to ensure that the Greek Government fully complies with European public procurement legislation?
- [1] https://www.newsbreak.gr/politiki/368787/keraynoi-se-adoni-kai-alloys-gia-to-parti-me-tis-apeytheias-anatheseis/ , https://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/kampanaki-gia-kybernisi-apo-eaadisy-gia-tis-apeytheias-anatheseis-kindynos-katadikis-apo , https://www.avgi.gr/koinonia/422420_parti-ton-apeytheias-anatheseon-tha-kostisei-akriba-sti-hora
- [2] Opinion A4/2022, https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/6%CE%95%CE%996%CE%9F%CE%9E%CE%A4%CE%92-557?inline=true
- [3] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-001452_EL.html
- [4] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-001452-ASW_EL.html
- [5] These correspond to Articles 26 and 32 of Directive 2014/24/EU.